Automatic pin-setting machine.



F. E. & H. E. ESTABROOK.

1. r. ESTABROOK. zxzcumx or F. a. ESTABROOK. DECD.

AUTOMATIC PIN SETTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1|. I917.

1,292,738. Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

8 SHEETS-SHEET I.-

F. E. & H. E. ESTABRO'OK. F.ESTA8RO0K.EXECUTR1X or r. a. ESTABROOK. DECD.

AUTOMATIC PIN SETTING MACHINE. 'APPLICATION FILEDJUNE 11. I917.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

8 5HEETSSHEET 2- 4+ 5 8 We'nfow 2 E J C jf v z $51,144 am 'y F. E. & H. E. ESTABROOK. 1. F.ESTABROOK,EXECUTR1X 0F r. a. ESTABROOK, DECD.

AUTOMATIC PIN SETTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE H. 1911.

1,292,738. Patented Jan. 28,1919.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

F. E. & H. E. ESTABROOK.

lf. ESTABROOK, EXECUTR IX 0? F. l:- ESTABROOK, DEC'D.

AUTOMATIC PIN SETTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNEH. 1911.

Patented Jan. 28,1919.

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11 1: mmmxmm ."1'4I 124//::JI 1 F 5 3 m eutou F. E. & H. E. ESTABROOK- V 1. r. zsnanoox. zxzcumx or F. I:- ESTABROOK. nzc'n.

AUTOMATIC PIN SETTING MACHINE. APPLICATION HLED JUNE 11. 191-1.

Patented J an. 28, 1919.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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A K v 3mm: wrote 5% 141/ W ,F. E. & H. E. ESTABROOKv I F. EST/BROOK. EXECUTRIX UF F- L ESTABROOK, DEC'D.

AUTOMATIC PlN SETTING MACHINE. APPLICATTON FILED JUNE I1. 1911.

1,292,738. Patented Jan. 28,1919.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

a, QR QiQ w Rim j W W 8 mum V6014 F. E. & H. E. ESTABROOK. J. F. ESTABROOK, EXECUTRIX (If F. l;- ESTABROOK. DEC'D. AUTOMATIC PIN smme momma.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE l1. 19H. 1,292,738, 1 Patented Jan. 28,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

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setting machines for bowling alleys, and

i To all whom it may con'cem f S ATES PA NT oF IcE."

-m1-rx EUGENE ESTABROOK AND EAERY E. Esm'anoox, 0E nnwmnaen, NEW YORK;

JESSIE r. Esrannoox, EXEQUTRIX or sun Emmi: E. ESTABROOK, nEoEAsEn.

AUTOMATIC PIN-SETTING MACHINE.

- Application filed tuna-1,1917. Serial No. 173,978.

Be it known thatwe, FRANK EUGENE ESTABRQOK- and HARRY EUGENE EsrABRooK, citizens of the United States, and residents ofNewburgh county'of Orange, and State of New Yor have invented certain new 1 and useful Improvements in Automatic Pina specification.

Thisinvention relates to automatic pin 1 d i.

has. for its object the provision of mechanism under the control of the player for; Setting the pins upon the alley, returning. the balls to the players position and removing the dead wood from the alley. I

' anism;

the line V-'V of-,Fig.l1'; I Fig; 26' is a-vertiea'lsectional view, show-1 Fig. 91 is'adeta'i1view:of-the'gearing-for actuating the mechanism for setting the p1ns I fixed at them rear, ends to shafts 14 jourtion occupied while'the 'pinsi arebeing set;

In the drawings, Figure 1 isasidejelev-ation of an automatic pin'settin'g machine, embodying the invention chine in position upona bowling'alleyf-i q Figs. 2. and 3. are detail-yiews-of.a'fpor-' tion of the gearing for the elevatingmech-g F'g. 4";is a plan view of 'thema'chine, portions of the mechanism being brokenawayj" Fig. .5 is alhorizontal sectional view :on.

ing the parts'innormal position;

' Fig". 7 isfa detail view of a portionfof-thegearing for actuating the elevating .mechanism; v j Fig. '8is'a'fdetail view" of the caring-for actuating,t hedead wood removing mechai nism;..-"'-

uponthealley'; Fig. 10 is a vertical sectlonal view coi the machine, showing the parts in the pos1 Fig. 11 is a detail vertical seti'onal view;

through one of the pinde'positing' chutes,..'

the cut-off tion,

Fig. 12 is a detail side elevatlon, showing end of one of gate being shown in open pos1-' -F1g..13 a sideielevation showing the geank in'g' for'actuatingthe maChih Q; Fig.14 aibottom lan-view of the 'actuat-x. ing gearing; E

- Fig. 15 9. detail vefticalsectional view through oneof the pin depositing chutes." showing the partsin the position occupied 'tion of the parts as the upon the outer bed;

"showing "the; ina- I 'at the beginning of the pin-depositing operation Flg. 16 a similar viewshowing the posipin is deposited -F g. 17 a detail view partly in vertical section, showing the manner of setting the .machine to respot the standing pins on the dead-wood removal-operation;

Fig. 18 a .dlagram of the motor circuits;

matic circuit breaking device.

The automatic pin-setting machine is located at the pit end of-the alley, which may-be constructed. in any suitable manner, and is formed with the usual alley bed 1 and alley it 2.

' The bal and pin elevating receptacle ;.3'is

suspended on suitable cables 4 passing over loose pulleys 5 and wound upon-drums 5.

The receptacle 3 normally rests on the bottom ofthe pit 2 in position to receive the balls and pins-knocked from the alley or removed therefrom by the dead-wood removing' sweeps 6. The elevating receptacle 3 is guided vertically by four vertical posts 7,

the rece ta'cle 3 be ng able laterally projectlng brackets at each 1 side thereof formed with sleeves 8 embracing said posts. The drums 5 are fixed to a ='.shaft'-9 which may be 1ournaled in any suitprovided with suitable support. A pinion 10 fixed on the shaft Qis-adapted to mesh with thetoothed portion 11 of a mutilated onthe main shaft 13.

gear 12 looselyheld The dead-wood removing sweeps G'are to each ofthe shafts 14 adjacent the upper ends "of the shafts, and the free ends of said crank arms are connected by links 16 to crank pins 17 fixed, on rotatable disks 18 mountedon shafts 19. The shafts 19 are supported in any suitable bearings and are ,provided at their lower ends with bev'eled 'pinions 20 meshing with :beveled gears 21 fixedon the shaft 22. A pinion 23 fixed on the-shaft 22'is" adapted to-be meshed with the toothed portion ofthe mutilated gear 24 fixed on the main shaft 13. l

f ,1 The mechanism forsepar'ating the balls and pins and setting the pins is suspended I from a ceiling oroth'er suitable over-head I support by four vertically depending rods '25, the frame of the separating and depositing mechanism being rigidly heldto said rods by suitable brackets'26. A- vertically, reciprocable, rectangular frame 28 is slidably guided on said rods by sleeves 29. vTwo pairs of vertical rods 30 are rigidly held at their upper ends at opposite sides of the frame 28. A horizontal plate 31 is rigidly held to'the' lower ends of the rods 30. The plate 31 is provided with suitable apertures through which the pin depositing chutes 32- extend. .The plate 31 is also provided with apertures through which the rods 33 pass. The mechanism for reciprocating the frame 28 to operate the pin-depositing mechanism as hereinafter described, comprises a shaft 34 rotatablyjournaled in any suitable support and having two pinions 35, meshing with pinions 36 fixed on a shaft 37 The shaft 37 has fixed thereto two sprockets 38 driven by chains 39.

. from sprockets 40 fixed ona shaft 41.

Pinion 42 fixed'on the shaft 41 is adapted having a revoluble bottomplate 49 adapted.

to be rotated by an electric motor 50. An

inclined grid extends, across the upper 'end of the hopper 48. This grid comprises a series of parallel rods or bars 51 inclined downwardly to the edge of a trough 52 communicating with a bal -return track or chute '53 extending along the side of the alley to the playersposition. -The rods 51 are spaced apart sufficiently to permit'the pins discharged upon the grid from the elevating receptacle 3 to drop throu h the grid into the hopper 48, but are su ciently close together to prevent the passage of the balls therebetween. The balls roll down the inclined grid into the trough 52 and thence to the players position through the ball-return chute 53.

The openings 47 are normally closed by vertically recipr'o'cable'gates 54 slidably held at each side on rods 55 depending from a ring 56 rigidly held to the rods 30 carried by the reciprocating frame 28. The edges of the gates 54 are rolledstos form tubular guides slidably held on the rods 55, the up-: per ends of said tubes being closedb pl-ugs 57 rigidly held therein and provided withapertures through which the rods'55 extend-.

The gates are normally held in raised or closed position by mn s riags 58 coiledaround the rods 55 within the tubular guides and interposed between the plugs 57 and'lugs 59 formed on the inner walls of ithejchutes,

fixed thereto simultaneously by the ring .56 and automatically locked in open position. When the ring 56 is depressed on a downward move-' ment of the frame 28 and rods 30, the under side of thering engages the closed upper ends of the tubular guides and forces. all of the gates downwardly against the pressure of the springs 58, until the gates reach the position shown in Fig. 11. Each of the gates is provided with a bell-crank trip lever 60 pivotally held to lugs 61 formed at the lowerends of the gates. The notched upwardly extending arms 62 of the trip levers 60 are" normally held in the position shown in Fig..'11, through the medium of a concealed sprin in the pivot 63 of each trip lever, and w en the gatesare depressed the notched end of the arm 62 of each trip lever .snaps under the hooked ends of a pair of pivoted latches 64'a'nd 65 pivotally held at 66 to the chutes 32 and normally held in the position shown in Fig. 11' by concealed springs in the pivots .66.

The latches 64 are provided with'inwardly I extending arms 67 connected by chains 68 to the upper ends of the rods 33. The lower ends of the rods 33 extend through apertures in lugs 69 formed on the lower ends .of the chutes 32 and bear against the upper survided with'a pair of spaced'collars74 and .75. The collars 74 are fixed to the rods-33 "at points above the plate 31, and the collars I 75' are fixed to the rods 33 below the plate 31. Coil springs 76 are interposedbetween the collars 75 and the under side of the plate. 31. The springs 76 are stronger than the 1 springs 72, and when the plate-31 is depressed upon a downward movementof' the frame 28 andthe rods 30, the rods 33 will i be forced downwardly through the medium of theplate 31, springs 76, and lugs 75, and '1 will force the tubes 71 downwardly against the tension of the springs 72, as shown in Fig.17. 4

The lower .ends of the tubes 71 are normally closed by a pair of downwardly and 1 outwardly swinging gates 77 carried by arms 78 pivotallygheldto the lower ends oft-he 1 tubes on horizontal pivots 79. The arms 7 8 r are formedwith -intermeshing segments 80 at their upper ends, and are normally. I forced inwardly toward each other by 6011 to lugs 73 formed on the lower ends 10f the tubes ,71, and "held at their other ends to the plate 31. Each of'the rods 33 =is, prosprings 81. -At their lower ends the arms 78 are provided with-rollers 82 adapted to p engage the alley bed when the tubes 71 move 65 32. The gates are adapted to be opened downwardlyto'the position shown in Fig.

-' .The wire 95 leads-jtoftheterminal's 97 '98 of the-sWitches 99- and 100 locate jacent to the players osition, The swi c 99 and 100 are prefera ly inthefoim of the; well-known push-button":sv vitch'. The tor-r 16. The latches 64 are withdrawn from engagement with the arms 62 of the levers 60,

through the medium of the chain 68 and rods are connected by chains83 with the upper end of the core 8401 a solenoid 85. The core of the solenoid is normall held in raised position by the tension 0 the springs 1n the pivot bearings of the latches 65 and is adapted to be pulled downwardly when the solenoid is energized to withdraw the latches65 from engagement with the notched ends 62 of the levers 60, as shown in Fig. 17

for a purpose hereinafter described The main shaft 13 is adapted to be rotated through one revolution at each operation,

by an electric motor 44, the main shaft being driven through a sprocket 46 fixed thereon and a sprocket chain driven from a driving the, shaft'lB, the motor for rotatsp'rocket "on theshaft 45 driven from the shaft of the motor 44 through speed-reducing gearing. 45 of any suitable construction.

The circuits for controlling the motor 44' for ing the bottom pate-49 er the hopper-48 an for controlling'the solenoid 85, are shown diagrammatically in Figs. 18, 19 and 20. A

rotary circuit-controller'87 is keyed on the .main shaft 13 by pin 88, the; controller 87 'andopin 88 being insulated from the main-.1, shaftjbysnitable sleeves89 and 90 of insu-' 'lating material. :The circuit controller ,87

- is formed with the laterallyextending resilient contact finger 91 adaptedfto slide over the outer surface of a circular contact mere-- her 92' extending about the main shaft lfl and supported in any suitable manner. The

contact member 92- is cut. away at" 931, as

upon the {hub 97 of the rotary circuitic ontroller 87 and connects said controller with the wire 96 forming a part of the opposit side of the main line of the motor circui mina l 101 of the switch99 and the terminal motors'44 and '50. The brushes 106 andl107 at the opposite side of the motors 44 and-50 are connected with the Wire 10,8 forming a The ' y wi'tch 100 is formed with athird terminal 7 connected to a branch line'103 connecting the brushes 104 and 105 at one. side of the part of one side of themain line.

109 connected by the branch line 110 with the main line 108 through the solenoid 85. A branch line 111 is connected at one end with the main line 96 and at its other end with a terminal 112 adapted to contact with an insulated terminal'113 carried by the lower end of the solenoid core 84 and insulated therefrom and electrically connected with one end of the wire 86, the o posite end of the wire 86 being electrical y connected with the line 110.

To completely reset the alley after" a player has finished rolling a set, the circuit is closed through lines 95, 108, motors 44 and 50 and line 96, by closingthe switch 99.

whereupon the motor 50- rapidly rotates the bottom plate 49 01 the hopper 48 and the motor 44 begins to drive the main shaft 13 in the-direction of the arrow indicated in Fig. 13. As' the main "shaft begins to rotate the brush 91 on the rotary circuit controller 87 moves through the dead space 93 into contact with the conducting ring 92, thus closing the circuit through the motors 44'and 50 by wayof lines 95, 94, contact ring 92, brush 96, line 96, line 103, thence through the motors to line 108, whereupon the push-button switch 99 may be released and the circuit last described maintained 91 on the rotary circuit controller 87 has. made one complete revolution and again reaches the dead space 93, whereupon the through the motors44 and 50 until the'brush circuit through the motors will 'be'broken "and'the movement of theshaft 13 will cease after-the shaft has made a single revolution. A s the shaft13 begins to rotate the teeth .on ,the' mutilated gear 43 engage the pinion 42 on the shaft 41,-and, through the mechanism heretofore described, rotates the pinion 35 ori the shaft 34through a single revolution, and I through the medium of alink 114 connected shown in Figs. 18, 19' and 20,- and is 1con' nected'by wire? 94 with the Wire 95 forming, 1 one sideof the main line of the motor cir' cuit. The freeend of a brush 96 bears 4 frame 28; depresses and retracts the ring 56'and the plate 31. The depressionof the v ring 56 as heretofore described, simultane v ously .opens all of the gates 54 controlling,

th outlets 47 from the hopper-48, wherent of f tirelaten forces the rods 33 down- 'dly 'in 'thc manner heretofore described,

, jthegates are locked open by th latches 64 nd .,-65, the' gates thus being held down nst the-tension of the spring 58' when the 1 5.6 isi 'retracted. The downward movemovement of thetubes 71 and temporarily main in engagement with the trip levers 60K and prevent the closingof the gates duringthe temporary'unlatchmg of the latches 64. As the toothed portion of the gear 43.. ass es causingan idle downward and [upward Q 1020f the switch 100, are connected to the wire 96, the opposite end of the wire being out of engagement with. the pinion 42, a

laterally extending flange 116 (see Fig. 9)

, 42, thus positively locking the shaft 41 and.

the parts driven therefrom against movement during the remainder of the revolution.

of the main shaft 13. I

Immediately upon the completion of the operation of the gate-setting devices just.

described, the'toothed portion of the gear 24| fixed on the main shaft .begins to mesh with the pinion 23 fixed on the shaft22, and throughthe connections heretofore described, oscillates the. shafts. 14, causing 'the'deadwood removing sweeps 6 to move inwardly and rearwardly" over the alley. bed, thussweeping all the. pins and balls from the alley 'into the receptacle 3 resting at the bottom; of th'e'l'pit' 2. One of the crank, arms 15 for oscillating'the shaft'14. is slightly shorter than the other, whereby one of the Sweeps is moved inwardlyslightly inadvance of the opposite sweep to permit the sweeps to move inwardly'in over-lapped relation without interference with each other. The toothed portion of the gear 24, through the gearing heretofore described, imparts a single revolution-to the disk 18, thus causing a single inward and outward movement of the sweeps v6. As the toothed-portion of 'the gear 24 passes out of engagement with the pinion 23, an inwardly extending flange 118 carried by the" gear engages the curved face of a segmental block 119 fixed on the shaft 2 2, thus locking the dead-wood remover. actuating means against movement during the remainder ofthe -revolution of the main shaft 13.

At the completionof the dead-wood re- 7 moving means the toothed portion 11 of the gear 12' is c-a'rried'into mesh with the pinion 10 on/ the shaft 9 of the winding drum 5, thus winding the cable 4 upon the drum and lifting the receptacle 3 containing the balls and pins until lugs 120 projecting laterally from the forward end of the pivotedbottom plate 122 of the receptacle 3 strikes projecting stops 123 fixed on the frame of the separating grid 51,and afu-rther upward-movement of the receptacle 3 causes the bottom plate 122 of the receptacle to rock about its pivot 124 as shown in Fig.

10, whereupon the balls and pins are discharged upon the grid 51, the pins falling through the grid into the hopper 48 and -the chutes 32 is suchthat, in case a pin the balls rolling down the inclined grid into .the trough 52 and thence-:into'the ball-return I tion by means of strong coil springs 125.

As the toothed portion 11 of the'gear 12 passes out of engagement with the pinion 10 when the receptacle 3 reaches its upper- ,it reaches its starting point.

ment. with the segmental block 127 fixed on the shaft 9, thus locking the shaft 9 against rotation duringthe remainder of the rotation of the main shaft 13 and holding the receptacle '3 in its uppermost position .for a I sufficient length of time to permit all of the pins and balls to pass from the receptacle-- is loose onthe I nain shaft13 and is caused to rotate therewith in' the direction of the I 3 to the separating grid 51. The gear 12 arrow in Fig. 13'to wind the cable 4 on the 1 drum, through the'medium of. a cam 128 keyed on the main shaft 13. The cam 128 has a shoulder 129 adapted toengage the hooked end 130 of alever 131 pivotall'y held intermediate its ends at 132 toone face of the gear 12. The lever 131 has a concealed spring'in its pivot bearing, normally forcing the hooked end'130 of the lever into engagement with the cam 128. The loose gear 12is formed with a sleeve. or hub portion 137 to which is fixed a gear 136 meshing with agear 135 journaled in brackets 138 held to the wall or other suitable support. A spring 139 is coiled about the shaft of the gear 135 and is fixed at one end to one of the brackets 138 and at its other end to the gear 135, so that as the gear 12 is rotated by the main shaft 13, through cam 128 and latch, lever- 131, the spring 139 is wound'upto; store powerfp' rectio to'release the holding block 127 from flange 1526 on gear 12 and to lower the rev 'ceptacle 3. Just-before the main shaft 13 completes its revolution the arm-.133 of the latch lever 131 strikes 'a stop 134 held to the wall or other suitable support, whereupon the hooked end of the. latch lever is rocked out of engagement with the shoulder 129 on the cam 128. and. the gear 12 is rotated in"the reverse direction by the spring driven pinion 135 and gear 136 fixed on the hub 137 of the gear '12 to release the holding block 127 from the flange 12 6, whereupon rotate. the gear 12 in the reverse dithe receptacle 3 is lowered tothe pit and the gear 12 continues its reverse movement until The pins falling on the revolving plate 49 are thrown outwardly by the centrifugal ac tion of theplate, and by reason of. the fact i that the butt ends of the'pins are heavier than theupper ends, the pins are discharged through the openings 47, butt end first as shown in Fig. 15. v The distance from the perimeter of plate 49 to the outer walls of should pass head first through one of the openings 47 the head of the pin would en- 1 gage the wall of the chute before the center plate would then carry the butt end of the in along and withdraw the head ofthe pin rom the opening 47.

Whena pm passes through one of the openings 47, butt endfirst and starts to fall downwardly through the adjacent chute 32,

the bottom of the pin strikes the projecting coil springs '58, thus preventing the passage of more than one pin into a chute. As the pin passes downwardly through the chute it springs 72.

engages the gates 77 carried by the swinging arms 78 at the lower ends of the tubes 71, and the weight of the pin thereupon causes the tube 71 to move downwardly against the tension of the light springs 72 until the rollers 82 on the lower ends of the arms 78 engage the alley bed. A further downward movement of the tube 71'spreads the arms 7 Sapart against the tension of the-spring 81 as shown in Fig. 16, thus opening the gates 77 and permitting the pin 'to pass through the lower end of the tube 71 onto the alley bed. As the gates 77 are moved out+ wardly from beneath the lower end of the pin the springs 72 retract the tube 71, and as the tube moves upwardly to its telescoped position the springs 81 pull the arms 78 toward each other, thus causing the inner edges of the gates 77 to contact with opposite sides of the pin and center the pin to properly spot the same on the alley bed. The intermeshing segments 80 carried by the upper ends of the arms 78 insure a simultaneous and equal .movement of the arms 78 and gates 77, thus properly positioning the pin and maintaining the same in an upright position as the tube 71 is retracted by the To remove the dead wood and respot the live pins the switch 100 is operated to close the circuit through line 95,, line 96, line 103,

meters 44 and 50 to line 108, thus energizing the motors 44 and'50 to set the revolving plate 49 and the main shaft 13 in operation. A circuit is also closed through the terminal 109, line 110, solenoid to the line 108, thus energizing the solenoid and pulling the core 84 thereofdownwardly as shown in Fig. 17, thus releasing all of the latches 65 through the medium of the chains 83. As the main shaft begins to rotate the circuit is closed through the line 95, line 94, contact ring 92, rotary circuit controller 87, brush 96, line 96, line 103, through the motors 44 and 50 to line 108 to energize the motors until the shaft 13 has made one revolution as described in connection with the complete resetting operation above described. The movement of the rotary circuit controller 87 establishes a circuit through the solenoid 85 by way of brush 96 line 96, line'111, terminal 112, wire 86,thence through the sole-' noid winding to'lin'e 108 through line 110,

thus holding the solenoid core down against the tension of the spring-pressed latches 65 throughout the revolution of the main shaft '13. The gate-opening means, the dead-wood removing means and the elevating means,

are thereupon operated in succession, in the, manner above described, through the main shaft 13. It will be seen, however-that when the plate'31 is moved downwardly by the rod 30 and frame 28 to force the tubes 71 downwardly in' the manner heretofore described, the gates 77 carried by the tubes'71 leading to spots occupied by standingpins I will engage the heads of the pins and prevent further downward movement of the tubes, the springs 76 compressing as shown at the left in Fig. 17 to permit relative movement between the plate 31 and the rods 33, acting on tubes contacting with standing pins. When the downward movement ofa tube 71 is stopped by a standing pin a, sufiioient downward movement, olf the corresponding rod 33 to release the corresponding latch 64 is prevented, as shown at the left in .said tube in open pos ion when the ring 56 Fig. 17, thus holding the gate leading to is retracted. The late cs 64 controlling the gates to chutes leading to spots previously occupied byfallen or dead pins are rocked out of engagement in the manner hereto fore described in connection with the idleoperation of these latches in the complete resetting operation, and in view of the fact that all of the latches 65 are held out of engagement withthe trip levers 60 by the solenoid 85, the gates 54 to said chutes will move .upwardly under the influence of their springs 58 as the ring 56 is retracted, thus closing the entrance to said chutes previously to the discharge of pinsinto the hopper 48. When pins are delivered into the hopper by the elevating mechanism, as heretofore described, it will beseen that pins will be dis-- charged only into chutes leading to-spots previously occupied by standing pins, the remainderof the pins being retained in the hopper 48.

What we claim is: a

1. A pin-setting machine for a bowling alley, comprising means for setting the. plns upon the alley bed, an inclined gr d supported above the alley for separatlng the pins and balls, means supported under the grid for receiving the pins passing through said grid and delivering the same to the pinsetting means, a ball return chute having a portion extending along the lower edge of said grid adapted to receive the balls from ported above the alley for separating the pins and balls, means supported under the grid for receiving the pins passing through said grid and delivering the same to the alley, the combination of means for setting pins upon the alley bed, means for taking pins from the alley pit and delivering them to said setting'mea'ns, and means for removing the standing and fallen pins from the alley bed into the alley pit, said pin-setting means being operable to set pins on the spots previously occupied by the standing pins or to set all of the pinsin proper position on the alley bed.

4. In a pin-setting machine for a bowling alley, the combination of means for removing the standing and fallen pins from the alley bed, means for setting the pins in position on the alley bed, means for conveying all the pins to the setting means, and means whereby said setting means is operable to set all of the pins or to reset pins only on the spots occupied by the standing pins displaced by the pin-removing means. 4

5. A pin-setting machine for a bowling alley, comprising a hopper having a revoluble bottom plate and a plurality of pin-discharge openings in its side walls, pin-setting chutes adapted to receive pins discharged through said openings and deposit'the pins in upright positions upon the alley bed, cutofl' gates adapted to close said openings, means for taking pins from the alley and delivering them into said hopper, means for rotating said bottom plate to cause the pins to pass through said openings into the chutes butt end first, and means for automatically closing each of said gates after the passage of a single pin through the opening controlled thereby.

. 6. -A pin-setting machine for. a bowling alley, comprising a hopper having a revoluble bottom plate and a plurality of pin-discharge openings in its side walls, pin-setting chutes adapted to receive pins discharged through said openings and deposit the pins -in upright positions upon the alley bed, cutoff gates adapted to close said openings, means for taking pins from the alley and delivering them into said hopper, means for rotating said bottom plate to cause the pins to pass through said openings into the chutes butt end first, means for automatically closing each of said gates after the passage of a single pin through the o ening controlled thereby, and means where y the gates controlling the entrance to a selected chute or chutes may be closed prior to the passage of a pin therethrough. v

' 7. A pin-setting machine for a'bowling alley, comprising a hopper having a revoluble bottom plate and a plurality of pindischarge openings in its'side walls,pinsetting chutes adapted to receive pins discharged through said openings and deposit I controlled thereby, and manually controlled means for closing the gates at the entrance to chutes leading to spots originally occupied by dead pins. I

8. In a pin-settingmachine'for a bowling alley, the combination of a plurality of chutes adapted to deposit pins in an upright position on the alley bed, means for taking the pins from the alley and delivering the same into said chutes butt end first, means for preventing the entry of more than one pin into each chute, and manually controlled means for preventing the passage of pins through chutes leading to spots originally occuyucd by dead pins, whereby the alley may be either completely or partially reset. 9. pin-setting machine for a bowling"?- allev. comprising a shaft, electrically controlled means for rotating said shaft through one revolution, a hopper having aplura ty of pin-discharge openings, "pinsetting chutes adapted to'receive pins discharged through said openings and set the pins upon the alley bed, cut-ofi' gates for said openings, yieldable means for normally holding said gates in closed position, means for taking pins from the alley and delivering them into said hopper, a rotary bottom its plate in said hopper, means for rotating said plate to cause the pins to pass outwardly through said openingsbu'tt end first, means driven from said shaft for opening said gates, means for automatically looking the gates in open position, means driven from said shaft for actuating the pin delivering means, and means actuated by the pins for releasing said gates upon the passage of a single pin therethrough.

10. A pin-setting machine for a bowling alley, comprising a shaft, electrically con trolled means for rotating said shaft through one revolution, a hopper having a plurality of pin-discharge openings, pinsetting chute-s adapted to receive pins discharged through said'openings and set the pins upon the alley bed, cut-elf gates for said. openings, yieldable means for normally plate to cause the pins to pass'outwardly through said openings butt end first, means driven from said shaft for opening said' gates, means for automatically locking the gates in openposition, means driven-from said shaft for actuating the pin delivering means, means actuated by the pins .for releasing said gates upon the passage of a single pin therethrough,.and means whereby the gates controlling a selected chute or;

chutes are automatically released from said locking means. prior. to the delivery of the pins into said hopper.

. 11. In a pin-settingfmachine, the combination of means for "removing pins and balls from the alley bed, a hoisting rece tacle adapted to receive the pins and bail removed from the alley bed, pin-spotting means, ball-returning means, means for separating the balls and pins adapted to de liver the pins to said pin-spotting means and the balls to said ball-returning means, means for raising and lowering said hoisting recepta'cle, and means for transferring the balls and pins from said receptacle to said separating means when the receptacle is elevated. 12. In a pin-setting machine, the combination ofa hoisting receptacle, means for removing pins and balls from the alley into said receptacle, pin-spotting means, ballreturning means, pin and ball separating means located above the pin-spotting means and adapted to discharge the pins into the pin-spotting means, and the balls into the ball-returning means, means for raising and lowering said hoisting receptacle, and means for automatically emptying the pins and balls in said receptacle upon the separating Y means when the receptacle is hoisted.

13. In a pin-setting machine, the combination of pin-spotting means supported above the alley bed, means for conveying pins from the alley pit to the pin-spotting means,

- manually controlled power-operated means for elevating said conveying means, and means for automatically lowering said conmeans.

'14. n a pin-settingmachine, the combination of pin-spotting and ball-returning means supported above the alley, a hoisting receptacle, means for removing pins and balls from the alley into said receptacle, separating means located..above the alley and adapted to deliver pins tothe pin-spotting means and balls to the ball-returning means, manually-controlled power-operated means for hoisting said receptacle, means for dumping said receptacle to transfer the pins and balls therein to the separating means,

means for holding the receptacle in its ele-* 15. In a pln-settlng machine, the combination of pin-spotting means, an inclined grid located above the spotting means for separating the pins from the balls, a ball-return chute adapted to receive balls rolling from said grid, a hoisting receptacle having a'pivoted bottom part, means for normally holding saidbottom part in closed position, means for removing balls and pins from the alley into said receptacle, means for raising and lowering said receptacle, and means adapted to rock the bottom part of the receptacle about its pivots when said receptacle is raised to a position above said grid to dump the balls and pins upon the grid.

16. In a pin-setting machine, the combination of pin-spotting means, means for reciprocating said spotting means toward and from the alley bed, and means controlled by the reciprocatory movement of the pinspotting means for controlling the number and positions of pins set by said spotting means;

'17. In a pin-setting machine, the combination of pin-spotting means, means movable toward and from the alley bed adapted to engage standing pins to set the spotting means to place pins in the positions occupied by the standing pins engaged by said means, means operable subsequently to said setting means for removing all pins and balls from the alley and delivering all of saidv pins to the spotting means, and means for subsequently operating the spotting means to reset pins in the positions occupied by the standing pins removed by said pin and ball removmg means.

18. In a pin-setting machine, the combination of devices movable toward and from the alley bed and each adapted to have the extent ofmovement thereof limited by engagement with a standing pin, means adapted to set pins-upon the alley bed at the points toward which said devices'are movable, means for removing all pins from the alley and delivering the same to the setting means, and means controlled by the extent of movement of said devices toward the alley bed whereby the pin-setting means is pregagement with a standing pin, means adapted to set pins upon the alley bed at the points toward which said devices are movable, means for removing all pins from the alley and delivering the same to the setting 'tion of pln-spotting means embodying a means, means controlled by the extent of movement of said devices toward the alley bed whereby the pin-setting means is prevented from resettingpins at points not previously occupied by standing pins removed by said pin-removing means, and means whereby said pin-setting means may be operated at will to re-set all of the pins.

20. In a pin-setting machine,- the combinationof means for removing both standing and fallen pins from the alley bed, ball-returning' meansj pin-spotting means, means for delivering all of the pins removed by said pin-removing means to the pin-spotting means, means whereby said spotting means may be operated to re-spot all of the pins displaced by said in-removing means,

-- and means whereby sai spotting means may be operated atwill to re-spot pins only on the positions previously occupied by standing pins displaced by said pin-removing means. 1

21. In a pin-setting machine, the combination of pin-spotting means embodying a plurality of chutes and means for setting.

pins delivered into said chutes 'in' upright posltions on thealley bed, centrifugal means for delivering pinsibutt end first into said chutes, and means for conveying pins from the alley to said centrifugal delivery means..

22. In apin-setting machine, the combinaplurality of chutes and means for setting I both standin pins delivered into said chutes in upright positions on the alley bed, centrifugal means for delivering pins butt end first into said chutes, means for conveying pins from the alley to said centrifugal'delivery means, and means for preventing the delivery of more than one pin into each chute by said centrifugal means. 7 V y 23. In a pin-setting machine, the com-.

bination of pin-spotting means embodying a plurality 0 chutes adapted to deposit pins in an upright position on the alley'bed,;cen-

trifu al means for delivering ins butt end first into said chutes, means or removing and fallen pins from the alley, means or conveying the pins to saiddelivery means, means for preventing the delivery of more than one in to each chute, and means operable at wil to prevent the delivery of pins to'chutes leading to spots previously occupied by fallen'pin's, where-' y the alley may be partly or wholly re-set at the will of the operator.

24. In a pin-setting machine, the combination of a driving. shaft, means for rotating said shaft at. will through 'a single revolution, pin-spotting means, driven from said shaft for removing both means I standing'and fallen pins from the alley,

means driven from said shaft for distributing pins to the spotting means, means driven from said shaft whereby all the pins displaced by the pin-removing means are delivered to the distributing means, and means driven from said shaft operable at the will of the operator to set the spotting means to' .either completely reset the alley or to reset pins on the spots previously occupied by standing pins removed by said pin-removlng means.

25. In a pin-setting machine, the ,com-' bination of a plurality of spotting devices,

-means for delivering a single pin to each spotting device, means for removing both the standing and fallen pins from the alley and for conveying all of said pins to the delivery means, and means whereb the deliveryof pins to the spotting devices lead from said shaft for operating the pin-delivering means, means driven from said shaft for operating the pin-removing means, and

means driven from said shaft and operable at will toset the pin-delivering meansto deliver pins to all. of said spotting devices or to spotting devices adapted to 'replace pigs .a single revolution at will, means driven I on spots previously occupied by standing pins removed by saidpin-removing means.

27. In a pin-setting machine, the combination of pin-spotting means supported above the alley bed, a holsting receptacle for conveying pins from the alley pit'tov the pinspotting means, power-operated means for hoisting said .receptacle, means for automatically locking position, means or automatically dumping pins from the hoisted receptacle and disthe recptacle in hoisted charging the same into the pin-spotting. means, automatically controlled power-operated mechanism for releasing. the receptacle-lockingmeans, and means whereby power for actuating said releaslng means is This specification signed this 26th day' of May, A. D.'1917. v.

v FRANKEUGENE ESTABROOK. HARRY E. ESTABROOK.

- generated by the operation of the hoisting 

